China promotes increased use of family doctors

World Today

With rapidly changing demographics, China aims to provide universal healthcare access and treatment for it’s citizens by 2020. This year, the country is promoting family doctors, helping to ease the burden on hospitals and balance out the country’s limited medical resources.

The changes are just one of the many reform efforts announced by the health authorities on Thursday.

CCTV’s Zheng Yibing reports.

To alleviate crowded hospitals, the government now building a hierarchical medical system – one that encourages patients to seek medical care from grass-roots institutions and family doctors.

“We have set up family doctor services in 200 public hospitals in trial cities across China, and will encourage more trials in other areas,” Liand Wannian, deputy director for the Health Reform Office said. “By the end of 2016, the service coverage will have reached 15 percent in urban areas, and over 30 percent in the key groups of patients.”

As the country allows couples to have two children, more pediatricians will be trained to meet the increasing needs. At the same time, doctors will gradually be allowed to work in more than one hospital, allowing the country to further balance its limited medical resources.